26-story building in Brazil collapses after massive blaze

An abandoned 26-story building in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, caught fire and collapsed early Tuesday, showering the surrounding streets with fiery embers and killing at least one person, firefighters said.

About 150 firefighters were battling the blaze, which started at about 1:30 a.m. local time. It is thought to have been caused by a gas explosion, according to reports.
— NPR

Though officially abandoned as the former São Paulo headquarters of the federal police, about 50 families were believed to have occupied the building as squatters. Most people have reportedly managed to get out, however at least one person died in the building collapse, firefighters said.

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randomised

I find it just weird to call something an abandoned building when it's actually full of people (it makes it sound there are no victims, or no victims that matter or something). But maybe it's just me interpreting it like that as a non-native English speaker.

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There were squatters who local officials said made the fire hazard worse by removing elevator shaft doors and adding a lot of combustible materials to the lower floors. it was a regional police HQ but the police moved to a new building years ago.

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randomised

I find it just weird to call something an abandoned building when it's actually full of people (it makes it sound there are no victims, or no victims that matter or something). But maybe it's just me interpreting it like that as a non-native English speaker.